Mower discharge chute deflector and bagging attachment

ABSTRACT

A rotary lawn mower includes a housing defining a discharge chute, the latter including a hinged outer portion in the form of a deflector or guard. The deflector is biased toward a lowered operative position wherein it acts to intercept and deflect objects thrown at a high trajectory by the mower blade, the deflector also acting to evenly disperse grass cuttings over the ground. The deflector may optionally be raised to an inoperative position wherein it permits a bagging attachment to be installed.

United States Patent 1191 Erdman et a1.

[451 Mar. 19, 1974- MOWER DISCHARGE CHUTE DEFLECTOR AND BAGGINGATTACHMENT [75] Inventors: Leon Paul Erdmah, Beaver Dam;

Lee Joseph Wanie, l-Ioricon, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: Deere & Company, Moline, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 305,475

[52] U.S. Cl. 56/320.2, 56/202 [51] Int. Cl A0ld 35/26 [58] Field ofSearch 56/3202, 202, 17.4

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,568,421 3/1971 Smith56/202 x 3,721,078 3/1973 Haffner 56/202 2,973,614 3/1961 Horner et al.56/202 X 3,706,190 12/1972 Taub 56/202 X 3,192,692 7/1965 Slemmons56/202 X Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Assistant Examiner--J. N.Eskovitz [5 7] ABSTRACT A rotary lawn mower includes a housing defininga discharge chute, the latter including a hinged outer portion in theform of a deflector or guard. The deflector is biased toward a loweredoperative position wherein it acts to intercept and deflect objectsthrown at a high trajectory by the mower blade, the deflector alsoacting to evenly disperse grass cuttings over the ground. The deflectormay optionally be raised to an inoperative position wherein it permits abagging attachment to be installed.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Pmmmm 19 m4 SHEET 3 BF 5 FIG.6

PATENTEU m I 9 am SHEET 5 [IF 5 MOWER DISCHARGE CHUTE DEFLECTOR ANDBAGGING ATTACHMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a rotary mower and more particularly relates to a mowerhaving a discharge chute readily changeable between a first mode fordispersing clippings upon the ground and a second mode for permitting abagging attachment to be secured thereto.

The prior art includes lawn mowers which are constructed so as to beoptionally used with or without an attachment for bagging clippings.These known mowers are not entirely satisfactory since they haverelatively complicated structures for permitting the optional mountingof bagging attachments and/or are not easily changeable between baggingand non-bagging modes, and/or are unsafe when used without a baggingattachment since no means are provided for deflecting dischargematerial, including hard objects thrown by their cutting blades, towardthe ground. Additionally, some of the mowers which do have deflectorsare unsatisfactory since the discharged material is windrowed by thedeflector thus leaving unsightly rows across the mowed areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Another specific object is to provide adischarge chute including a hinged'outer portion defining a de-. flectoror guard shaped for scattering clippings as well as for deflecting hardobjects thrown by the mower blade.

Another object is to provide a deflector which is mounted so vas toaccommodate easy installation of the bagging attachment. Morespecifically, it is an object to provide a bagging attachment having ahandle which props the deflector in an inoperative position when thebagging attachment is installed, the handle having a forward extensionforming alatch-engaging member which passes beneath the deflector andreleasably engages a spring latch fixed to the top of the housing.

Another object is to provide an extended chute at the mower dischargeopening with length sufficient to prevent the cutting blade fromstriking a foot which might accidentally be inserted into it.

Another object is to provide an extended chute which provides the abovesafety feature but which is also pivoted at its inner end thuspermitting it to be raised, thereby reducing the overall width of themower for transport (when attached to a vehicle) in the bed of a pickuptruck, passing through a narrow gate or for storage in limited space. H

Yet another object is' to provide a deflector hinge structure which islocated entirely exteriorly of the discharge chute so as not to disturbthe flow of material therethrough.

These and other objects will become apparent from the ensuingdescription and the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view,partially in outline, of a rotary lawn mower showing the mower in itsnonbagging mode.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the lawn mower in itsbagging mode.

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the mower housing showing thedischarge end portion of the discharge chute including the hingeddeflector.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the housing portion shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the deflector member showing theangular relationship of the inclined outer edge of the deflector memberrelative to the plane of rotation of the mower blade.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the mower housing showing the collectingspout of the bagging attachment installed.

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevational view of the housing and collectingspout shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the housing and collecting spout shown inFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the interlockingstructure for releasably latching the collecting spout to the mowerhousing.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing additional interengagingstructure which cooperates with that shown in FIG. 9 for holding thecollecting spout in place during its use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,therein is disclosed a rotary mower here depicted as a riding mower andindicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10. The mower 10comprises a mobile vehicle 12, shown here only in outline, having anengine (not shown) arranged to drive a cutter blade 14 (FIGQ6) about avertical axis in a generally horizontal plane through means of a driveshaft 16 It is to be noted that hereinafter the terms inner," inwardly,outer and outwardly will be used and are made with reference to the axisof the shaft 16 and also the terms front," forwardly, rear andrearwardly are used with reference to the normal. direction of travel ofthe'vehicle 10.

A mower blade housing 18 is arranged about the blade 14 and includes atop or deck 20 which is integral with a vertical skirt 22, the top 20overlying the blade 14 and rotatably supporting the shaft 16 and theskirt 22 extending circularly about the path traced by the tips of theblade 14 between a first skirt end 24 which terminates at a location atabout 8 oclock relative to the axis of rotation of the blade as viewedin FIG. 6 and an intermediate location 26 between l0 and 11 oclock fromwhere the skirt extends tangentially toa second skirt end 28 located atabout 9 oclock. Terminating coextensively with the second skirt end 28is the outer terminal end 30 of an upwardly extending wall 32 formed inthe housing top 20,-the wall 32 being spaced inwardly from the skirt andhaving an inner end 34 p0- sitioned at about 3 oclock. The wall 32gradually diverges from the skirt, and has a top edge which graduallyinclines upwardly, throughout the length of the wall from its inner toits outer end. The skirt 22 and a top portion 36 are similarly inclinedand cooperate with the wall 32 to form an inner discharge chute portion38 of a conventional design which is inverted U- shaped in transversecross section and includes a discharge opening 40.

A deflector or guard 42 defines an outer discharge chute portion whichforms a continuation of the inner discharge chute portion 38, thedeflector also being inverted U-shaped in transverse cross section.Located exteriorly of the inner discharge chute portion 38 andrespectively fixed at the same level to the upper outward corners of theskirt 22 and wall 32, adjacent the respective ends 24 and 30 of theskirt and wall, are a pair of oppositely projecting pins 44 and 46, thepin 44 being threaded for a purpose to be explained below. The deflector42 is dimensioned such that the inner end thereof embraces the outermarginal end portion of the inner discharge chute portion 38, thedeflector including front and rear walls 48 and 50, respectively, theupper rear corners of the walls 48 and 50 respectively forming inwardlyextending ears 52 and 54 having apertures therein respectively receivingthe pins 44 and 46. The pins 44 and 46 are here shown in axialmisalignment; however, the aperture in the ear 54 is large enough topermit the deflector 22 to swing about the axis of the pin 46 through 90between lowered and raised operative and inoperative positionsrespectively shown in solid and dashed lines in FIG. 4. The ear 54 isangled away from the wall 50 so as to define a space at the locationwhereat the pin 46 projects therethrough, the space receiving a torsioncoil spring 56 disposed on the pin 46 and having one end projectingthrough a hole 58 in the upper corner of the ear 54 and having its otherend in engagement with the housing top 20. The spring 56 is arranged soas to bias the deflector 42 downwardly towards its operative position.The downward movement of the deflector 42 is limited by an abutmentsurface 60 formed along the bottom edge of the wall 50 and disposedvertically in bearing relationship with the skirt 22 when the deflectoris in its operative position. It is here noted that the spring 56 actstogether with a nut 62 received on the pin 46 for securing the deflector42 in place. Thus, it will be appreciated that the deflector hingestructure is located so as to in no way impede the passage of materialthrough the discharge chute defined by the inner chute portion 38 andthe deflector 42.

The deflector 42 includes a top wall 64 which includes an inner marginalstrip 66 extending across its width and disposed horizontally above andin embracing relationship with the portion 36 of the housing top 20 whenthe deflector is in its operative position. Located centrally in thestrip 66 is an inwardly opening notch 68 having a purpose to bedescribed below. The deflector top wall includes a portion 70 which inthe embodiment disclosed is inclined downwardly at an angle of between land 17 relative to the horizontal. The wall portion 70 terminates in anouter peripheral edge 72 which generally approximates the curvature of aline drawn at a fixed radius from the drive shaft axis of rotation. Theedge 72 is inclined downwardly from its forward to its rearward end andmakes an angle of approximately with the horizontal. The inclination ofthe top wall portion 70 and the peripheral edge 72 cooperate to define acontour which acts to produce even grass clipping distribution bydirecting clippings flowing through the forward portion of the deflectorto a distance no greater than the cutting width of the blade 14 from theblade while directing clippings flowing through the remainder of thedeflector, proceeding rearwardly from the forward portion, to the groundat progressively shorter distances away from the cutting blade. Thecontour of the deflector 42 is also such that hard objects arriving atthe deflector on a high trajectory will be intercepted and directeddownwardly towards the ground within a short distance of the mower.

Referring now to FIG. 2, therein is shown a bagging attachment 74 whichis installed on the mower shown in FIG. 1 so'as to convert the latterfrom a non-bagging to a bagging mode. The bagging attachment 74 includesa collecting spout 76 including a main tubular section 78 ofsubstantially rectangular cross section comprising top, bottom, frontand rear walls 80, 82, 84 and 86, respectively. The front and rear walls84 and 86 are not spaced as far apart as the housing skirt and wall ends24 and 30 and the inner end of the section 78 fits inside the outlet ofthe inner discharge chute portion 38 with the top and rear walls and 86respectively being in engagement with the housing top wall portion 36and the wall 32. A baffle section 88 is fixed to and forms acontinuation of the front wall 84 on the collecting spout tubularsection 78, the baffle section extending generally parallel to the wall32 and intersecting the skirt 22 adjacent the tangent point 26. Thebaffle section 88 thus blocks material from flowing through the forwardportion of the inner discharge chute portion 38.

The collecting spout 76 is held in place bylatching means including achannel-shaped spring metal bracket 90 fixed to the top portion 36 ofthe housing adjacent the discharge opening 40 so as to define an openended opening 80 with the top portion 36. The top of the bracket 90includes an inwardly extending elongate latching tab 92 bent so as todefine a downwardly and inwardly inclined central U-shaped latchingportion 94 biased downwardly, by virtue of the bend, into bearingengagement with the housing top portion 36 and having an inward legterminating in an upwardly and inwardly inclined finger engageableportion 96. Fixed along the length of the top wall 80 of the spout 76 isa strap including an upwardly projecting end 98 at the discharge end ofthe spout, an intermediate inverted U-shaped portion forming a handle100 and an end portion 101 extending inwardly beyond the inlet end ofthe spout and having a reversely bent latching portion 102 which isshaped complementary to the bottom of a latching portion of the latchingtab 94 and is holdingly engaged thereby when the spout 76 is installedas illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The latching interengagement of thelatching portions 94 and 102 may be released by manipulating the tab 92upwardly by pressing on the finger engageable portion 96. The spout 76is further supported by means of an outwardly extending tab 104 which isfixed to the skirt 22 at the tangent point 26. The tab 104 includes acentral part 105 that is bent back into engagement with the skirt 22 andis received in a complementary-shaped slot 106 in the inner end of thebaffle section 88. Additionally, a pair of tabs 108 are fixed to the topwall 80 of the spout at locations on opposite sides of the handle 100and extend inwardly so as to engage the marginal top edge portion of theinner discharge chute portion 38, as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, it will beappreciated that the spout 76 is releasably fixed to the mower housingWithout the use of fasteners requiring tools for the installation orremoval of the spout.

It is here noted thatthe handle 100 serves the additional purpose ofpropping the deflector 22 in its inoperative position when the spout 36is installed.

The bagging attachment 74 further includes a bag 110 which is mountedfor receiving clippings from the collecting spout 76 through means of aplurality of flange sections 112 which are fixed to and extendtransversely to the discharge end portion of the spout in the same planecontaining the end 98 of the strap, the open end of the bag having anelastic band or drawstring or thelike extending thereabout anddisposable inwardly of the flange sections 98 and 112 so as to preventthe removal of the bag. The outer closed end of the bag 110 is supportedin general alignment with the discharge opening of the spout 76 by meansof an arm 114 which has one end fixed to the vehicle and its other endreleasably connected, as at 116, to the bag.

The operation of the mower 10 is as follows. With the mower in thenon-bagging mode shown in FIG. 1, cut crop such as lawn grass or thelike will be expelled from the housing via the inner discharge chuteportion 38 and the deflector 42. As the clippings exit from the innerdischarge chute portion, many will be directly deflected downwardlyand/or will be carried in an airstream deflected downwardly by thedeflector 42. The contour of the deflector acts to cause the clippingsexiting nearest the forward portion of the deflector to be directed tothe ground at a distance from the cutting blade which is approximatelythat of the width of cut of the mower while clippings exiting from thedeflector at points progressively closer to the rear of the deflectorare directed to the ground at progressively closer distances from theblade. Thus, the clippings are dispersed evenly over the ground. Thevelocity of the airstream is often great enough to bury the clippings inthe standing grass so that 'a clean appearance is obtained.

Should a hard object be engaged by the blade 14 and impelled therebythrough the inner discharge chute portion at a high trajectory, thedeflector 42 will intercept the object and direct it toward the ground.

As the mower traverses the ground, uneven locations may be encounteredresulting in the deflector 42 coming into contact with the ground. Ifthis should occur, the hinge mounting of the deflector 42 will permit itto ride upon the ground thus preventing damage to the deflector. Oncethe uneven location is passed, the torsion spring 56 will return thedeflector to its working positron.

Should it be desired to bag grass clippings, the mower may easily beconverted from its non-bagging mode, shown in FIG. 1, to its baggingmode, shown in FIG. 2, by installation of the collecting spout 76 andthe bag 110. The collecting spout 76 may be easily installed without theuse of any tools by first grasping the handle time disposing the bafflesection 88 so that the notch 106 is positioned to receive the tab 104.The spout 76 is then thrust inwardly to move the latching portion 102beneath the latching portion 94 to the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.The interengagement of the latching portions 94 and 102 will thenprevent the spout from moving outwardly. At this time, the spout willalso be supported by the tab 104 and the tabs 108. The deflector 42 maythen be released whereupon it will move downwardly into engagement withthe handle 100. The bag is then secured in place to complete thechanging of the mower to the bagging mode.

If it is then desired to change the mower back to the non-bagging mode,the bag 110 and the spout 76 need only to be removed, the removal of thespout 76 being accomplished by pressing upwardly on the fingerengageable portion 96 of the latching tab 92 with one hand to disengagethe latching portion 94 from the latching portion 102 while at the sametime pulling the spout outwardly with the other hand.

It will be appreciated then that the deflector 42 and the spout 76cooperate to define a mower structure which is easily changeable betweenbagging and nonbagging modes, with the deflector further having theattributes of contributing to the safety of the operation of the mowerin the non-bagging mode while at the same time acting to disperse grassclippings evenly over the ground.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with amower having only a single blade, it is to be understood that thedeflector and bagging attachment may be used with multiple blade rotarymowers as well.

We claim:

1. In a rotary mower of the type including a rotary cutting blade meansfor traversing a planar cutting zone having a predetermined widthconsidered relative to a normal direction of travel of the mower, ahousing supporting said blade means and including a top overlying thecutting zone and integral with a depending skirt bordering the peripheryof the zone, and an inner discharge chute portion which is invertedU-sh'aped in transverse cross section and is defined by top and oppositeside walls of the housing for guiding clippings upwardly from thecutting zone through one side of the housing, an improved deflector fordirecting hard objects, impelled upwardly at a high trajectory throughthe discharge chute, toward the ground adjacent the exterior of thehousing, comprising: an outer discharge chute portion having a top andopposite side walls conforming generally to the transverse crosssectionof the inner discharge chute portion and being mounted on the housing soas to form a general continuation of the inner discharge chute portion;the outer discharge chute portion having a top inclined downwardly awayfrom the housing, and said top having an outer peripheral edge inclineddownwardly from the front to the rear, of the mower, the inclination ofthe top being related to the normal flow of material from the innerdischarge chute portion such that grass clippings will be dispersedsubstantially evenly over a deposit zone extending transversely from andhaving a width approximately the same as that of said cutting zone; saidtop and opposite side walls of the outer discharge chute portionincluding inner end portions, considered relative to the cutting zone,embracing outer end portions of the inner discharge chute portion; saidside walls of the outer discharge chute portion having upper innercorner portions defining inwardly extending ears having axially alignedapertures therein; a pair of pins being fixed to and extendingtransversely to and oppositely from upper outer corner portions of theinner discharge chute portion and being respectively received in theapertures in said ears; at least one of said pins defining a generallyhorizontal pivot axis about which the outer discharge chute portion isvertically pivotable between a lowered operative position and a raisedinoperative position; and spring means biasing said outer dischargechute portion toward said operative position.

2. The mower defined in claim 1 wherein one of said ears is offsettransversely outwardly from the inner discharge chute portion at thelocation whereat the pin extends through the aperture in the ear so asto define a clearance space; and said spring means being a coil torsionspring received on the last-mentioned pin and having one end located inan aperture in said outer deflector portion and having a second endbearing on the mower housing.

3. A lawn mower including an optionally attachable clipping collectingspout, comprising: a rotary cutting blade means for traversing a planarcutting zone; an open bottom blade housing overlying the blade andincluding a skirt portion surrounding a major portion of said cuttingzone; said housing defining a discharge chute portion having top andopposite side walls terminating at a dischargeoutlet; said collectingspout including a main tubular portion having a top and at least oneside wall which, when the spout is installed, are positioned inembracing relationship respectively with the inside surface of the topand one side wall of said discharge chute portion; fastening means forreleasably retaining the spout in its installed position including adownwardly biased first latching member means fixed to the top of thedischarge chute portion and being biased toward engagement therewith anda cooperating second latching member means being fixed to the top of thetubular portion of said spout and being located beneath the firstlatching member means; said first and second latching member meansrespectively having first and second latching surface portions which areinterengaged when the spout is installed and said first latching membermeans being movable away from the second latching means to release thelatter.

4. The lawn mower defined in claim 3 wherein the securing means furtherincludes a pair of tabs fixed to the top of the tubular portion of thecollecting spout at opposite sides of the second latching member means,said tabs being engaged with the outer top surface of the dischargechute portion when the spout is installed.

5. The lawn mower defined in claim 3 wherein said main tubular portionof the spout includes a second side wall which is spaced opposite saidone side wall a distance less than the distance between the side wallsof said discharge chute portions; said latter side walls havingrelatively straight portions diverging from each other in the directionof the discharge outlet; and a baffie section being secured to andforming an inwardly extending extension of said second side wall andextending generally parallel to said one side wall of said dischargechute portion and intersecting the other of said side walls of thedischarge chute section.

6. The lawn mower defined in claim 5 wherein the fastening meansincludes a tab fixed to and projecting towards the discharge outlet fromthe other of said side walls of the discharge chute section at thelocation whereat the baffle section intersects the other of said sidewalls, and said baffle section having an inner end defining a slot whichreceives said tab when the spout is installed.

7. The mower defined in claim 3 wherein said first latching memberincludes a channel-shaped spring metal bracket having a web and oppositesides, the bracket being mounted with the sides in engagement with thetop of the discharge chute portion and extending generally parallel tothe one side thereof to thereby provide a passage extending between theweb and the last-named top; said web including a tab-like portion havingan outward secured end and an inner free end, the tab being bentdownwardly and having a U-shaped portion defining a latching surfacenormally biasingly engaging the top of the discharge chute portion inline with said passage when the spout is disengaged, said secondlatching member means including a strap fixed to the top of the spouttubular portion and having an inner end projecting forwardly of thespout and having a latching surface positionable beneath and releasablyengageable with the latching surface of the first latching member means.

8. The mower defined in claim 7 wherein said strap includes anintermediate portion forming a handle.

9. The mower defined in claim 8 wherein said spout includes flange meansat the outward end of the tubular section over which the open end of acollecting bag is adapted to be received; and said strap including anouter end forming a portion of said flange means.

10. A lawn mower of the type optionally changeable between bagging andnon-bagging modes, comprising: a mower blade means for traversing agenerally planar cutting zone having a predetermined width as consideredin the normal direction of travel; a mower blade housing defining aninner discharge chute portion having a discharge outlet through whichcut material is discharged; an outer discharge chute portion having aninner end shaped to conform to the inner discharge chute portion at saidoutlet, said outer discharge chute portion being vertically pivotallymounted on said inner discharge chute portion for movement between alower operative position wherein it forms a general continuation of theinner discharge chute portion and a raised inoperative position whereinit is clear of the discharge outlet; said outer discharge chute portionincluding surface means which is contoured such that, when the outerdischarge chute portion is in its operative position, the surface meansdirects clippings emanating from the discharge outlet in substantiallyeven dispersement over a discharge zone extending transversely to thenormal direction at distance no greater than the predetermined width ofthe cutting zone from the latter, and intercepts hard objects, emanatingfrom the discharge outlet at a steep trajectory, and deflects theobjects toward the ground; a bagging attachment optionally installableto receive clippings from said discharge outlet when the outer dischargechute portion is in its inoperative position; said bagging attachmentincluding a collecting spoutcomprising a main tubular portion includingan end to an installed position within the inner discharge chute portionthrough said discharge outlet, the spout being configured relative tothe inner discharge chute portion for directing the cuttings normallyexiting through said outlet to exit through said tubular portion; saidouter discharge chute portion being mounted and configured such thatwhen it is in its inoperative position the top thereof is spaced abovethe top of the inner discharge chute portion; a releasable latch meansfor securing the spout in place and including a first latching membermeans fixed to the top of the inner discharge chute portion adjacent thedischarge opening of the latter and including a first latching portionbiased toward bearing engagement with the top of the inner dischargechute portion, and a second latching member mea'ns fixed to the top ofthe outer discharge chute portion and including a second latchingportion extending beyond said tubular section and which is insertableinto the discharge outlet; said second latching position including aseating surface positionable below and engageable by said first latchingportion when said spout is in an installed position.

1 l. The mower defined in claim wherein said second latching membermeans is a strap fixed along the length of said tubular portion of saidspout; and said strap forming a handle which engages and props up theouter discharge chute portion to hold the latter in its inoperativeposition when the spout is in its installed position.

12. The mower defined in claim 10 wherein said spout is furthersupported, when in its operative position, from said innerdischargechute portion by means of a pair of tabs fixed to the top of the tubularportion at opposite sides of the second latching member means andproject-upwardly therefrom toward the inner discharge chute portion; andsaid tabs engaging the exterior of the inner discharge chute portion.

1. In a rotary mower of the type including a rotary cutting blade meansfor traversing a planar cutting zone having a predetermined widthconsidered relative to a normal direction of travel of the mower, ahousing supporting said blade means and including a top overlying thecutting zone and integral with a depending skirt bordering the peripheryof the zone, and an inner discharge chute portion which is invertedU-shaped in transverse cross section and is defined by top and oppositeside walls oF the housing for guiding clippings upwardly from thecutting zone through one side of the housing, an improved deflector fordirecting hard objects, impelled upwardly at a high trajectory throughthe discharge chute, toward the ground adjacent the exterior of thehousing, comprising: an outer discharge chute portion having a top andopposite side walls conforming generally to the transverse cross sectionof the inner discharge chute portion and being mounted on the housing soas to form a general continuation of the inner discharge chute portion;the outer discharge chute portion having a top inclined downwardly awayfrom the housing, and said top having an outer peripheral edge inclineddownwardly from the front to the rear of the mower, the inclination ofthe top being related to the normal flow of material from the innerdischarge chute portion such that grass clippings will be dispersedsubstantially evenly over a deposit zone extending transversely from andhaving a width approximately the same as that of said cutting zone; saidtop and opposite side walls of the outer discharge chute portionincluding inner end portions, considered relative to the cutting zone,embracing outer end portions of the inner discharge chute portion; saidside walls of the outer discharge chute portion having upper innercorner portions defining inwardly extending ears having axially alignedapertures therein; a pair of pins being fixed to and extendingtransversely to and oppositely from upper outer corner portions of theinner discharge chute portion and being respectively received in theapertures in said ears; at least one of said pins defining a generallyhorizontal pivot axis about which the outer discharge chute portion isvertically pivotable between a lowered operative position and a raisedinoperative position; and spring means biasing said outer dischargechute portion toward said operative position.
 2. The mower defined inclaim 1 wherein one of said ears is offset transversely outwardly fromthe inner discharge chute portion at the location whereat the pinextends through the aperture in the ear so as to define a clearancespace; and said spring means being a coil torsion spring received on thelast-mentioned pin and having one end located in an aperture in saidouter deflector portion and having a second end bearing on the mowerhousing.
 3. A lawn mower including an optionally attachable clippingcollecting spout, comprising: a rotary cutting blade means fortraversing a planar cutting zone; an open bottom blade housing overlyingthe blade and including a skirt portion surrounding a major portion ofsaid cutting zone; said housing defining a discharge chute portionhaving top and opposite side walls terminating at a discharge outlet;said collecting spout including a main tubular portion having a top andat least one side wall which, when the spout is installed, arepositioned in embracing relationship respectively with the insidesurface of the top and one side wall of said discharge chute portion;fastening means for releasably retaining the spout in its installedposition including a downwardly biased first latching member means fixedto the top of the discharge chute portion and being biased towardengagement therewith and a cooperating second latching member meansbeing fixed to the top of the tubular portion of said spout and beinglocated beneath the first latching member means; said first and secondlatching member means respectively having first and second latchingsurface portions which are interengaged when the spout is installed andsaid first latching member means being movable away from the secondlatching means to release the latter.
 4. The lawn mower defined in claim3 wherein the securing means further includes a pair of tabs fixed tothe top of the tubular portion of the collecting spout at opposite sidesof the second latching member means, said tabs being engaged with theouter top surface of the discharge chute portion when the spout isinstalled.
 5. THe lawn mower defined in claim 3 wherein said maintubular portion of the spout includes a second side wall which is spacedopposite said one side wall a distance less than the distance betweenthe side walls of said discharge chute portions; said latter side wallshaving relatively straight portions diverging from each other in thedirection of the discharge outlet; and a baffle section being secured toand forming an inwardly extending extension of said second side wall andextending generally parallel to said one side wall of said dischargechute portion and intersecting the other of said side walls of thedischarge chute section.
 6. The lawn mower defined in claim 5 whereinthe fastening means includes a tab fixed to and projecting towards thedischarge outlet from the other of said side walls of the dischargechute section at the location whereat the baffle section intersects theother of said side walls, and said baffle section having an inner enddefining a slot which receives said tab when the spout is installed. 7.The mower defined in claim 3 wherein said first latching member includesa channel-shaped spring metal bracket having a web and opposite sides,the bracket being mounted with the sides in engagement with the top ofthe discharge chute portion and extending generally parallel to the oneside thereof to thereby provide a passage extending between the web andthe last-named top; said web including a tab-like portion having anoutward secured end and an inner free end, the tab being bent downwardlyand having a U-shaped portion defining a latching surface normallybiasingly engaging the top of the discharge chute portion in line withsaid passage when the spout is disengaged, said second latching membermeans including a strap fixed to the top of the spout tubular portionand having an inner end projecting forwardly of the spout and having alatching surface positionable beneath and releasably engageable with thelatching surface of the first latching member means.
 8. The mowerdefined in claim 7 wherein said strap includes an intermediate portionforming a handle.
 9. The mower defined in claim 8 wherein said spoutincludes flange means at the outward end of the tubular section overwhich the open end of a collecting bag is adapted to be received; andsaid strap including an outer end forming a portion of said flangemeans.
 10. A lawn mower of the type optionally changeable betweenbagging and non-bagging modes, comprising: a mower blade means fortraversing a generally planar cutting zone having a predetermined widthas considered in the normal direction of travel; a mower blade housingdefining an inner discharge chute portion having a discharge outletthrough which cut material is discharged; an outer discharge chuteportion having an inner end shaped to conform to the inner dischargechute portion at said outlet, said outer discharge chute portion beingvertically pivotally mounted on said inner discharge chute portion formovement between a lower operative position wherein it forms a generalcontinuation of the inner discharge chute portion and a raisedinoperative position wherein it is clear of the discharge outlet; saidouter discharge chute portion including surface means which is contouredsuch that, when the outer discharge chute portion is in its operativeposition, the surface means directs clippings emanating from thedischarge outlet in substantially even dispersement over a dischargezone extending transversely to the normal direction at distance nogreater than the predetermined width of the cutting zone from thelatter, and intercepts hard objects, emanating from the discharge outletat a steep trajectory, and deflects the objects toward the ground; abagging attachment optionally installable to receive clippings from saiddischarge outlet when the outer discharge chute portion is in itsinoperative position; said bagging attachment including a collectingspout comprising a main tubular portion including an end to an installEdposition within the inner discharge chute portion through said dischargeoutlet, the spout being configured relative to the inner discharge chuteportion for directing the cuttings normally exiting through said outletto exit through said tubular portion; said outer discharge chute portionbeing mounted and configured such that when it is in its inoperativeposition the top thereof is spaced above the top of the inner dischargechute portion; a releasable latch means for securing the spout in placeand including a first latching member means fixed to the top of theinner discharge chute portion adjacent the discharge opening of thelatter and including a first latching portion biased toward bearingengagement with the top of the inner discharge chute portion, and asecond latching member means fixed to the top of the outer dischargechute portion and including a second latching portion extending beyondsaid tubular section and which is insertable into the discharge outlet;said second latching position including a seating surface positionablebelow and engageable by said first latching portion when said spout isin an installed position.
 11. The mower defined in claim 10 wherein saidsecond latching member means is a strap fixed along the length of saidtubular portion of said spout; and said strap forming a handle whichengages and props up the outer discharge chute portion to hold thelatter in its inoperative position when the spout is in its installedposition.
 12. The mower defined in claim 10 wherein said spout isfurther supported, when in its operative position, from said innerdischarge chute portion by means of a pair of tabs fixed to the top ofthe tubular portion at opposite sides of the second latching membermeans and project upwardly therefrom toward the inner discharge chuteportion; and said tabs engaging the exterior of the inner dischargechute portion.